“In the aftermath of the Second World War, political elites and business leaders promoted the notion that economic integration was a path to peace and harmony.

But the result was a form of economic development – based on debt, global trade and consumerism – that systematically undermined democracy and favored corporate interests while hollowing out local economies worldwide. In country after country, transnational corporations (TNCs) have been able to evade taxes by ‘offshoring’ their activities, and to bargain for lower tax rates and higher subsidies by threatening to move where even less in taxes will be demanded, and more in subsidies provided.

Today, interlinked multinational banks and corporations constitute a de facto European government, determining economic activity through the ‘European market’. Their vast lobbying power has an overwhelming influence on the EU Commission and the secretive Council. In other words, corporations run Europe.”

Be that as it may, the UK lacks an alternative at this time. To leave now would be an economic disaster. Changes must be brought on gradually by design and implemented by the development of local small businesses. The downside is that the required infrastructure is lacking and the building of an alternative will be thwarted at every twist and turn by the vested interest in keeping the money moving up rather than around.

“The prime minister is considering making a major speech about Britain’s future relationship with Europe before December’s EU leaders summit.

The speech would set out his vision of how the UK will respond to the recent call from the European Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso, for a new EU Treaty creating”

“a democratic federation of nation states”.

I challenge the use of the word “democratic” in this context. See below:

Comitology (or ‘committee procedure’) refers to the procedures under which the European Commission executes its implementing powers delegated to it by the legislative branch (i.e. the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union) with the assistance of so called ‘comitology committees’ consisting of Member State representatives. This delegation of power is now based on Article 290TFEU.

Comitology committees emerged in the 1960s when the Council realised that it lacked the resources to make all necessary implementation rules and decided to delegate implementing powers to the Commission. Today, most EU regulation is not enacted as legislation by the European Council or the European Parliament but as implementation measures under the executive duties of the Commission.

Notice the key phrase: “Today, most EU regulation is not enacted as legislation by the European Council or the European Parliament but as implementation measures under the executive duties of the Commission.”

To call this democratic is entirely misleading. It is the commission that holds the power in the EU, not parliament. The council represents the governments and is overburdened by thousands of lobbiest who represent corporate interests.

“Democracy is a form of government in which all eligible citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives.” en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy

Folks, this is definitely not what we have and we will have even less of it for as long as we stay in the EU.

Most people that I have talked to about the situation when the UK voted to join the EEC thought they were joining an economic union and not a political union. They feel they had the wool pulled over their eyes. Perhaps we can see more clearly now.